head to head
vs
Smalland: Survive the WildsvsStarbound
Smalland: Survive the Wilds leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery); Starbound leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Smalland: Survive the WildsStarbound
Axis by axis
Execution4 vs 3
Smalland: Survive the Wilds leans harder on execution: Insect combat at small scale demands dodge timing
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance4 vs 4
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization6 vs 7
Starbound leans harder on optimization: Gear tiers, farming, and progression routes dominate
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.